Leaders from the Automotive Parts Services Group, also known as “The Group,” have been on the road, meeting with the management teams of its current and potential suppliers to evaluate supplier partnerships with an eye for long-term growth and strong vendor relationships.
According to Roy Kent, executive vice president of product strategy and business development for The Group, topics of discussion include new product plans, information, data support, training and technician programs, as well as Internet strategies, vehicle connectivity, diagnostic capabilities and more.
“With the amount of change taking place so quickly in our industry, we have to take into account different considerations than in years past,” said Mike Mohler, executive vice president of vendor relations and product strategy for The Group. “While premium quality parts and sales support are still critically important aspects of our vendor relationships, the overall value proposition for the future is evolving and that requires us to have open, frequent communication with our supplier partners.”
The Group was created by the merger of Federated and Pronto program groups and is one of the largest automotive parts supply networks in North America.
